Supports for gymnastic beam

ABSTRACT

Supports for gymnastic beam wherein a pair of stand-like supports are provided, each having a cap formed with a socket into which an end section of a gymnastic beam may be telescoped, with tripod legs fixed to each of the caps to support the beam at a desired height above the floor or ground, with the tripod legs retaining the beam against endwise and lateral movements while a person performs various acrobatic stunts on the beam.

United States atent n 1 Vilotti [4 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [541 SUPPORTS FOR GYMNASTIC BEAM [76] Inventor: Donald R. Vilotti, 535 Corbitt Drive, Burlingame, Calif. 94010 22 Filed: Jam 20, 1972 [21] App1.No.: 219,288

[52] US. Cl ..272/60, 248/163 [51] lnt.Cl ..A63b 1/06,F16m 11/32 [58] Field of Search ..272/60, 62; 248/163, 83, 188.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1943 Williams ..248/l63 10/1968 Sorenson et a1. ..272/60 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harvey S. Israel Attorney-Joseph F. Cole [57] ABSTRACT Supports for gymnastic beam wherein a pair of standlike supports are provided, each having a cap formed with a socket into which an end section of a gymnastic beam may be telescoped, with tripod legs fixed to each of the caps to support the beam at a desired height above the floor or ground, with the tripod legs retaining the beam against endwise and lateral movements while a person performs various acrobatic stunts on the beam.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZTIEIYS :EIEEI:

21 3; 20 A lum- 1 SUPPORTS FOR GYMNASTIC BEAM SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to provide a pair of supports for gymnastic beam so as to hold the latter firmly in position while a person performs acrobatic stunts on the beam. The supports provide stand-like supports for holding the beam at a desired height above the floor or ground, and each has a cap formed with a socket into which an adjacent end section of the beam may be telescoped, and moreover tripod legs are arranged on the caps to hold the beam against endwise and lateral movements during performance of the stunts. The beam is made of wood that may be obtained from a lumber yard. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of standlike supports" that are rigid in construction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my supports for gymnastic beam in which a pair of stand-like supports are applied to the opposite end sections of a wooden beam;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG..1, showing the beam supported by the stands at a desired height above the floor or ground; 1

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane 3- 3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one of the stand-like supports.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that a pair of stand-like supports A are provided, and these supports are arranged at opposite ends of a gymnastic beam designated generally at B for supporting the latter at a desired height above a floor or ground C, whereby a person may perform acrobatic stunts on the beam. This beam is made of wood that may be obtained from a regular lumber yard, and may be clear fir or the equivalent. Each support has a cap formed with a socket 11 into which an end section 12 of the beam B may be telescoped, with the caps being disposed at opposite ends of the beam.

It will be further noted that tripod legs are fixed to the caps 10 and extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom to rest at their lower ends on the floor or ground C, the tripod legs defining middle legs 13 that extend in directions lengthwise beyond the adjacent ends of the beam so as to retain the beam against endwise movement. Moreover, the tripod legs further define a pair of side legs 14 on each stand-like support that extend laterally from the beam B, one on each side of the beam, and these side legs are disposed to retain the beam against lateral movement in either direction.

Both sockets 11 are arranged at the same height above the floor or ground C, whereby the beam B may be supported horizontally. The middle leg 13 of each stand-like support A is arranged in a vertical plane extending longitudinally relative to the length of the beam B, while the pair of side legs 14 of each support are arranged in a vertical plane extending transversely relative to the length of the beam. This arrangement of the tripod legs give firm support for the beam and holds it I against movement during acrobatic stunts being performed on the beam.

In its structural details, each cap 10 defines a rectangular tube 15 disposed to surround the adjacent end section 12 of the beam B, each tube having top, bottom and opposite side walls providing the socket 11, as

clearly shown in the drawing, and each tube further has an end plate 16 secured thereto and disposed to abut the adjacent end of the beam. As shown in FIG. 3, a

screw 17 or the like constituting fastening means is inserted into the beam through the lower wall 18 of each cap 10, whereby the latter is anchored to the beam against accidental dislodgment. However, the screws 17 may be removed when the supports A are to be disassembled from the beam for storage purposes, or moving the supports and beam from place to place.

It will be seen that the upper end 13a of the middle leg 13 of each stand-like support A is fixed to the end plate 16 of the adjacent cap 10, while the upper ends 14a of the side legs 14 of each support are fixed to the side walls 19 of the adjacent tube 15. Moreover, feet 20 are welded or otherwisesecured to the lower ends of the legs 13 and 14, and these feet may be inserted into recessed rubber pads 21 that rest on the floor or ground C.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the tripod legs 13 and 14 of each stand-like support A are so disposed that the latter will remain in upright position when the legs are placed on the floor or ground, and this will facilitate assembly. Also, the beam B will be firmly supported, even though the screws are omitted. It will be quite apparent that my supports for gymnastic beam may be used indoors or'outdoors.

I claim:

1. Supports for gymnastic beam comprising:

a. a pair of stand-like supports, each having a cap formed with a socket into which an end section of a gymnastic beam may be telescoped, with the caps being disposed at opposite ends of the beam;

. tripod legs fixed to the caps and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to rest at their lower ends on a floor or the ground so as to support the beam at a desired height thereabove;

. the tripod legs defining middle legs that extend in directions lengthwise beyond the adjacent ends of the beam so as to retain the beam against endwise movement;

. the tripod legs further defining a pair of side legs on each stand-like support extending laterally from the beam, one on each side of the beam, and these side legs being disposed to retain the beam against lateral movement in either direction;

. each cap defining a rectangular tube disposed to surround the adjacent end of the beam, each tube having top, bottom and opposite side walls providthe adjacent cap. g the s and each tube further having n 4. The supports for gymnastic beam, as set forth in end plate secured thereto and disposed to abut the l i 1; adjacent and of the beam- I f. and in which the upper ends of the side legs of each The pp for gymnast": beam as Set forth 5 stand-like support are fixed to the side walls of the claflm h h f t t d t h adjacent tube.

. an in W 1C 88 emng means IS mser e in 0 e S orts f m b t f th beam through the bottom wall of each cap, claim or gy n as Se or m whereby the latter are anchored to the beam f.' and in which the tripod legs of each stand-like supagainst accidental dislodgment. l0 r 3' The pp for gymnastic beam as Set forth in port are so disposed that the latter will remain in claim upright position when the legs are placed on the f. and in which the upper end of the middle leg of floor or ground each stand-like support is fixed to the end plate of 

1. Supports for gymnastic beam comprising: a. a pair of stand-like supports, each having a cap formed with a socket into which an end section of a gymnastic beam may be telescoped, with the caps being disposed at opposite ends of the beam; b. tripod legs fixed to the caps and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to rest at their lower ends on a floor or the ground so as to support the beam at a desired height thereabove; c. the tripod legs defining middle legs that extend in directions lengthwise beyond the adjacent ends of the beam so as to retain the beam against endwise movement; d. the tripod legs further defining a pair of side legs on each stand-like support extending laterally from the beam, one on each side of the beam, and these side legs being disposed to retain the beam against lateral movement in either direction; e. each cap defining a rectangular tube disposed to surround the adjacent end of the beam, each tube having top, bottom and opposite side walls providing the socket, and each tube further having an end plate secured thereto and disposed to abut the adjacent end of the beam.
 2. The supports for gymnastic beam, as set forth in claim 1; f. and in which fastening means is inserted into the beam through the bottom wall of each cap, whereby the latter are anchored to the beam against accidental dislodgment.
 3. The supports for gymnastic beam, as set forth in claim 1; f. and in which the upper end of the middle leg of each stand-like support is fixed to the end plate of the adjacent cap.
 4. The supports for gymnastic beam, as set forth in claim 1; f. and in which the upper ends of the side legs of each stand-like support are fixed to the side walls of the adjacent tube.
 5. The supports for gymnastic beam, as set forth In claim 1; f. and in which the tripod legs of each stand-like support are so disposed that the latter will remain in upright position when the legs are placed on the floor or ground. 